VMware Certification Paths

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VMware only initially offered a single certification and that was the VCP (VMware Certified Professional), over the years the certification offerings from VMware have grown to where we are currently.

The following certifications are currently or will be shortly available from VMware, some of these courses have strict class requirements whereas some of them don’t.

Desktop Virtualisation

VCA4-DT – A recent addition to the VMware certification catalogue the VCA4-DT course is aimed at the Desktop virtualisation market space and is one of the certifications that don’t require attendance on a qualifying course, VMware do however have recommendations on suggested courses but these aren’t mandatory. VMware only currently offer the VCA4-DT track but it's hoped that the VCA5-DT track will appear soon.



VCP-DT – This is a relatively new certificate directed at Virtualisation Systems engineers who specialise in Desktop environments using VMware View and ThinApp technologies. This certification has a requirement that the person taking the exam is already a current VCP but apart from that no other qualifying course requirements. VMware currently offer two tracks for the VCP-DT, VCP4-DT and VCP5-DT.





Datacenter Virtualisation

VCP – The core VMware certification, the VMware Certified Professional exam can be sat without attending a course however the certification itself will only be awarded once you have attended a qualifying course held at a VMware Accredited Trainer. VMware currently offer two VCP exam tracks, VCP4 and VCP5





VCAP – The next step up in the VMware certification ladder, this is actually a set of two different exams, one related to design, the other to administration. The pre-requisite for sitting either of the VCAP exams is that you have to hold a current VCP certification. VMware are currently offering VCAP5 exams in Beta but it's expected that these exams will be going live soon. VMware are also offering an upgrade path for current VCAP4-DCD to VCAP5-DCD where if you pass the VCAP5-DCD exam you will automatically gain the VCP5 certification.

VCAP-DCD is directed towards IT Architects capable of designing VMware solutions in a multi-site, large enterprise environments.​

VCAP-DCA is directed towards System Administrators, Consultants and Tech Support Engineers who can demonstrate their skills in VMware vSphere and vCenter technologies in relationship to the datacentre.​

VCDX – The pinnacle of the VMware certification tree, this is highest level of VMware certification comprising of design architects highly skilled in VMware enterprise deployments. This certification is somewhat different in its approach to previous VMware certifications in that whilst it has qualifying certification requirements (VCP, VCAP-DCA and VCAP-DCD) it also requires you to defend a VMware vSphere design and implementation plan infront of a panel of VMware experts. To give you an idea of how difficult this is there are currently less than 100 VCDXs across the planet.



VMware are offering an upgrade path for current VCDX4's to upgrade to VCDX5 during the first 3 months of the VCAP5-DCD being live

Current VCDX4 holders in good standing will be able to upgrade their certification to VCDX5 by successfully passing the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5- Datacenter Design (VDCD510) exam. The VCAP5-DCD exam release date will be announced in May. Release of the VCAP5-DCD final exam blueprint will occur at that time.

 

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I like the sound of the VCA4-DT course. Desktop virtualisation will be an important offering for IT service providers.

 

Partner Certifications and Competency Accreditations

VMware also offer Partner Certifications in the form certifications and competency accreditations. The following are a list of those certification and accreditations. One word of warning, you do need to belong to a VMware Partner to be able to take the training and gain the certifications\accreditations.

VSP – VMware Sales Professional

VTSP – VMware Technical Pre-Sales Professional

VCP – VMware Certified Professional (Post Sales)

The following are the Partner Competencies available.

 

Thanks for the write up SimonD, +1 rep heading your way. While I only use VMware at home for labbing, sometime in the future VMware is definitely an interest to learn and implement at work (we don't even virtualise yet!).

It would be lovely if there was a 'resource list' for VMware certs (like the self-study guide sticky), perhaps with recommendations and even our own member's reviews.

 

Great addition to the forum, you should pin this Simon

 

Its good to know that all of the certifications do not require VMware courses in order to achieve certification, it would be useful to know where the exams can be taken (e.g. Prometric) and the approximate cost.

 

Hi - the VMware exams are delivered by PearsonVue. Pricing varies by exam and by country, but you can find the details on their site: pearsonvue.com / vmware

 

Makaveli, having had a couple of stabs at this in the last 8 weeks the current cost per exam is £174 including VAT. Be very careful if you book the VCP5 exam as the View based exam has a slightly different code (510-dt) which when you are rushing may be mistaken for the normal 510.

Not that anyone would do that here

 

Probably the same for VCP4-DT as well so be careful.

 

Thanks VMware Jill and Gingerdave for the info. One more question I had regarding those VMware certs you can self study for is do they expire after a certain period of time?

 

VMware tend to issue new certifications to cover the newer releases of the OS\Application, in this case tho the VCA4-DT doesn't have an updated release although with View 5.1 releasing this week that 'may' change.

 

Thanks SimonD, so the certs dont expire as such but are superseded by new releases.

 

Self study is completlely viable, however if you want to sit the exam you need to have sat one of the VCP 5 courses.

 

This is an excellent resource SimonD. Thanks for posting.

Virtualisation is something need to bring myself back up to speed with. I played around with it a lot in the past - but since the IT manager left (at the place I work), my role has become more IT Manager role, than Systems Admin.

NB